The Washington critic., 1887-11-16
THE voPAGE or THE "sPRAY."
An using Episode In the History of
the Arrow Steamship Company.

the Arrow Steamship Company and the
statement of Mr.. Fryer to the effect
that 81 am the ship" a well known
citizen said yesterday:
ut reminds me of little occurrence
of last summer. You know one of the
provisions of the company was in the
nature of a free pass for stockholders
on all vessels owned or managed by
them. The shares were peddled around
the Departments and business houses
here at ten dollars each, and many
clerks and business men reveled in the
idea of ocean voyages made with
cheapness and dispatch.
buyers were impressed by state.
ments to the effect that the head man
of the concern had such an expansive
heart and such an indomitable will that
he had secured the advantages OF this
great scheme TO the middle and poorer
classes and would under no circum.
stances yield to grasping capitalists,
who were yearning for his stock In
large blocks. lie wanted everybody
10 have a share or few shares, at the
small price OF ten dollars, and then fast
time was to give them free rides and
large dividends.
Arrogant capital was to be held at
safe distance and the Pocahontas and
her sister vessels I'm prospective) were
10 be controlled by him In person, and
run solely In the interest Of the ten
dollar subscriber-'the ladies', God
bless them, preferred.
THE SPRAY" HEAvEs IN SIGHT.
"well, the company did come into
possession OF vessel they did not
build, but bought It. Formerly tug
boat, they had It remoieled and fitted
out IS a sort Of launch TO carry passen
gers. The name of the boat was the
Sprsy and 1t only voyaged between
Alexandria and this city as a means of
conveyance for the important person
sges of the company. Most of It's time
was spent alongside the wharf at the
ship yard, and here 1t was that 1t was
spied by a party of the Washington
stockholders who had gone down on
Sunday afternoon to cast admirlng
glances at the lengthy beam at right
angles with the river, which they were
contidentislly informed the keel of the
Pocahontas was to be laid upon.
They conceived the idea that the
Spray would be an excellent means of
conveyance for an outing on the lower
river, and at once made inquiry re.
garding her. The party were referred
to the Washington office.
THE ExCURsIoNIsTs.
"They consisted of a well.known
jcweler, dealer In the lacteal fluid, a
wholesale confectioner, one of our
prominent restaurateurs, an under.
taker, couple of Government en-.
ployes and others to the number Of ten.
They called at the Washington office Of
| the company, third.story front, on +,
between Tenth and Eleventh streets,
| where they found the local end of the
| establishment In Mr.. Widdicombe.
| New York had to be consulted, which
was done, and after considerable delay
and the correspondence necessary tc
display the dignity and Importance Of
| such vast concern, the stockholders
placed at their disposal at the time
appointed.
1.-THE time named was on Saturday
afternoon, and some of the expectan,
excursionists went over to Alexandra
and sailed up on the steamer. She lay
at the Eighth street wharf, and sup
piles galore were purchased for th
happy crew. The gay and festiv
crowd assembled at the establishment
of the restaurant stockholder and pro
ceeded to prepare for their voyage.
| ANTICIPATION.
"Great baskets Of liquid and solid re
freshments were In waiting and read
to be transported to the boat. The eS
cursionists were arrayed in nautlca
and piscatorial costume, according
the fancy of each, and all were in hig
expectancy when there came
SAD BLOW
in the shape of note from the aforC
mentioned Mr.. Widdlcombe. He ha
not been invited to accompany th
party, and as the regulations require
that representative should be on eac
one of the company's vessels, he II
formed the party that he had ordere
the ship to heave anchor and sail bac
a to the ancient city.
1.-The dull thud of silence with whic
, the announcement from him WI
: received was only equaled by the multi
9 tude of profane eXpletlXes which tn
!, disappointed party applied to his phi.
!, steal and spiritual form, and, as til
~ citizen said, If Mr.. Fryer was IL
'Pocahontas. Widdicombe certain
was the Spray"
L